Woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend... Just when I thought life could not get any better I heard a knock on my door, it was Cancer. It changed everything but not for the worse. I choose Life and Hope . BACK OFF CANCER is what I say!

The beginning of this journey...shaving my head

Me, Francesca, on April 1st 2007, the day I shaved my head....

Sunday, September 27, 2009

From 13 steps to 13 miles

Dear Friends:

As many of you know, I recently celebrated a very special milestone in cancer world: 2 years in remission. I AM SO LUCKY! For the few out there that are not familiar with the subject, studies show that the recurrence of cancer is higher during the first 2 years after treatment.

Cancer has not left my life though. Paired with the side effects of an aggressive chemo treatment , Cancer wanted to get close to me in another form ; My Dad. My gorgeous , young , charming father has been fighting a courageous battle with metastasized cancer since this past spring and while there are better days than others we are lucky that he has had an incredible team of doctors and while at first we thought that he wasn't going to make it till Christmas we are now very optimistic that Santa will have a gift for him in his bag. Maybe it will even be in the form of remission, a cancer free life.

I am about to celebrate all that I am grateful for by joining other survivors and caregiver in San Francisco for the NIKE Half- Marathon benefiting The Lymphoma and Leukemia Society on October 18.

When I was sick I often talked about the humbling moment when I was just not able to take the 13 flights of steps in my house. I started it and half way through it I had to sit down, take my breath and then continue. So now I can look into cancer 's eye and say : "-take that! Now I will be running/walking 13 MILES as the half marathon". I am doing this in honor of my father and the people that are now undergoing treatment and are facing "their 13 steps".

I am personally making a donation as my family and I are grateful for the research efforts of the LLS. With no obligation to act , here is my fundraising page that I just put together as so many of you have so generously asked me about.

Although 2 years have gone by, not a day goes by that I don't stop, say a prayer and thank the universe for the love that I received from you during the trying times of my treatment and beyond. Many of you deserve a piece of this celebration. So, on Oct 18th, weather in SF or anywhere around the world, please raise a glass of bubbles and celebrate LIFE!

There are more than 10.5 million cancer survivors living in the United States today. This number has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The number of survivors will grow as the population ages and progress against cancer continues.

1.4 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year. 560,000 Americans are expected to die from cancer this year, or more than 1,500 per day.

Nearly 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer during their lifetime.

Within the next decade, cancer is likely to replace heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S. It is already the biggest killer of those under the age of 85. Today 65% of adults diagnosed with cancer will be alive five years after diagnosis, up from 50% in the 1970s. African-American men and women have the highest mortality rates for all cancer sites combined.

While dramatic survival improvements have been achieved in patients diagnosed with cancer at age 15 or younger and steady improvement has been made against a number of cancers common among those over age 40, little or no progress has been seen in the adolescent and young adult population. In fact, among those aged 25 to 35 years, survival has not improved in more than two decades.

francesca-did any of your doctors ever teach you how to fight cancer with food? no chemo, rad, or other drugs are needed. please consider contacting me. i teach my patients how to prevent/reverse cancer and other chronic diseases and think i can be of benefit to you and your family. 775 223 8260 dr.gbh

I am excited to announce the release of a new book in August! A book written from the heart, Porcelain Soldier will give you a glimpse inside the delicate balance of strength and frailty that exists in battling cancer.

At age twenty-eight, Kelli Davis is young, in a promising relationship, and has just embarked on an exciting, fulfilling career that she is passionate about and is taking her places. Then, one night, she is rushed to the emergency room with severe pain in her arm, and is discharged three hours later with a completely unexpected diagnosis: cancer.

Disposition—Discharged: The patient was discharged ambulatory accompanied by significant other. The significant other is ready, alert and willing to learn. The patient’s diagnosis, condition, and treatment were explained to the patient and the patient expressed understanding.

With doctors by her side, Kelli finds comfort in adhering to a strict medical plan, but there is no prescription for how to live life after cancer. Porcelain Soldier: Discovering Gratitude in Cancer is an intimate, honest journey that follows Kelli as she attempts to answer the questions “Why did I get cancer?” and “What am I supposed to learn from it?”, allowing readers to see and feel her struggles to regain a so called normal life.

Now, if Kelli were to walk out of those same hospital doors today, she would rewrite her discharge report this way:

Disposition—Discharged: The patient was discharged ambulatory accompanied by a greater sense of being. The future significant other will appreciate vulnerability, celebrate wisdom, and mean the words “in sickness and in health.” The patient’s diagnosis, condition, and treatment were explained to the patient and the patient expressed understanding, gratefulness, desire to recognize and appreciate the lessons cancer has to offer, and a great outlook on tomorrow.

I would like to send you a review copy of the book. If you are interested, please reply with the best address to ship your copy. I look forward to your thoughts on the book.